#THE DEKKHAN AGRICULTURISTS’ RELIEF ACT, 1879 
______ 

##ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
__________ 

SECTIONS 

1. Short title. 
2. [Repealed.]. 
3. [Repealed.]. 
4. [Repealed.]. 
5. [Repealed.]. 
6. [Repealed.]. 
7. [Repealed.]. 
8. [Repealed.]. 
9. [Repealed.]. 
10. [Repealed.]. 
11. Agriculturists to be sued where they reside. 
12. [Repealed.]. 
13. [Repealed.]. 
14. [Repealed.]. 
15. [Repealed.]. 
16. [Repealed.]. 
17. [Repealed.]. 
18. [Repealed.]. 
19. [Repealed.]. 
20. [Repealed.]. 
21. [Repealed.]. 
22. [Repealed.]. 
23. [Repealed.]. 
24. [Repealed.]. 
25. [Repealed.]. 
26. [Repealed.]. 
27. [Repealed.]. 
28. [Repealed.]. 
29. [Repealed.]. 
30. [Repealed.]. 
31. [Repealed.]. 
32. [Repealed.]. 
33. [Repealed.]. 
34. [Repealed.]. 
35. [Repealed.]. 
36. [Repealed.]. 
37. [Repealed.]. 
38. [Repealed.]. 
39. [Repealed.]. 
40. [Repealed.]. 
41. [Repealed.]. 
42. [Repealed.]. 
43. [Repealed.]. 
44. [Repealed.]. 
45. [Repealed.]. 
46. [Repealed.]. 
47. [Repealed.]. 
48. [Repealed.]. 
49. [Repealed.]. 
50. [Repealed.]. 
51. [Repealed.]. 
52. [Repealed.] 
53. [Repealed.]. 
54. [Repealed.]. 
55. [Repealed.]. 
56. Instruments executed by agriculturist not to be deemed valid unless executed before a Village-
registrar. 
57. [Repealed.]. 
58. [Repealed.]. 
59. [Repealed.]. 
60. Registration under this Act to be deemed equivalent to registration under Indian Registration 
Act, 1877. 
61. [Repealed.]. 
62. Exemption  of instruments  to  which the Government  or any  officer of the  Government is  a 
party. 

 
 
 
#THE DEKKHAN AGRICULTURISTS’ RELIEF ACT, 1879 

##ACT NO. 17 OF 1879 

[29th, October, 1879.] 

     An Act for the relief of Indebted Agriculturists in certain parts of the Dekkhan. 

  WHEREAS it is expedient to relieve the agricultural classes in certain parts of the Dekkhan from 
indebtedness; It is hereby enacted as follows:— 

1. **Short title.**—This Act may be cited as the Dekkhan Agriculturists' Relief Act, 1879: and 

**Commencement.**—it shall come into force on the first day of November, 1879. 

**Local extent.**—This section and sections 11, 56, 60 and 62 extend to the whole of India 
except the territories which, immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in Part 
B  States.  The  rest  of  this  Act extends  only  to  the  districts  of  Poona,  Satara,  Sholapur  and 
Ahmednagar but  may,  from  time  to  time,  be  extended  wholly  or  in  part  by  the  State 
Government to any other district or districts in the territories which, immediately before the 
1st November, 1956, were comprised in the State of Bombay, or to any part or parts of any 
other such district or districts. 

* * * 

2. **Repealed.**—*[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay* 
*Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act,* 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 *was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.*
 
3. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced]. 

4. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced]. 

5. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced]. 

6. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced]. 

7. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

8. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced. 

9. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced]. 

10. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced]. 

11. **Agriculturists to be sued where they reside.**—Every suit of the description mentioned in 
Section 3, clause (w)[^1], may, if the defendant, or, when there are several defendants, one only of 
such defendants,  is  an agriculturist,  be instituted and tried in  a Court  within the local  limits  of 
whose jurisdiction such defendant resides, and not elsewhere. 


[^1]. Reproduced below:— 

“(w) suits for the recovery of money alleged to be due to the plaintiff— 
on account of money lent or advanced to, or paid for, the defendant, or as the price of goods sold, or 
on an account stated between the plaintiff and defendant, or 
on a written or unwritten engagement for the payment of money not hereinbefore provided for;”. 

 
                                                           
Every such suit in which there are several defendants who are agriculturists may be instituted and tried 
in  a  Court  within  the  local  limits  of  whose  jurisdiction  any  one  of  such  defendants  resides,  and  not 
elsewhere. 

Nothing herein contained shall affect sections 22 to 25 (both inclusive) of the Code of Civil Procedure. 

[* * *] 

12. **Repealed.**—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

13. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

 14. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

15. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

16. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

17. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

18. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

19. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

20. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 
 
21. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

22. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

23. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

24. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 34[* * *] 

25. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

26. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

27. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

28. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

29. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

30. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

31. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

32. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

33. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

34. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

35. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

36. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

37. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

38. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

39. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

40. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

41. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

42. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

43. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

44. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

45. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

46. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

47. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

48. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

49. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

50. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

51. Repealed.—  [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

52. Repealed.—  [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

53. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

54. Repealed.— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

55. Repealed.—[Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

56. **Instruments executed by agriculturist not to be deemed valid unless executed before 
a  Village-registrar.**—No  instrument  which  purports  to  create,  modify,  transfer,  evidence  or 
extinguish  an  obligation  for  the  payment  of  money  or  a  charge  upon  any  property,  or  to  be  a 
conveyance  or  lease,  and  which  is  executed  after  this  Act  comes  into  force  by  an  agriculturist 
residing in any local area for which a Village-registrar has been appointed, shall be admitted in 
evidence for any purpose by any person having by law or consent of parties authority to receive 
evidence,  or  shall  be  acted  upon  by  any  such  person  or  by  any  public  officer,  unless  such 
instrument is written by, or under the superintendence of, and is attested by, a Village-registrar: 

Provided  that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  prevent  the  admission  of  any  instrument  in 
evidence  in  any  criminal  proceeding, or  apply  to  any  instrument  which  is  executed  by  an 
agriculturist  merely  as  a  surety, or  to  any  instrument  required by Section 17 of the Indian 
Registration Act, 1877 (3 of 1877), to be registered under that Act.

[* * *] 

57. **Repealed.**— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

58. **Repealed.**— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

59. **Repealed.**— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

60. **Registration  under  this  Act  to  be  deemed  equivalent  to  registration  under  Indian 
Registration Act, 1877.**—Every  instrument  executed  and  registered  in  accordance  with  the 
foregoing  provisions  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  duly  registered  under  the  provisions  of 
the [^2]Indian  Registration  Act,  1877  (3  of  1877);  and  no  instrument  which  ought  to  have  been 
executed  before  a  Village-registrar  but  has  been  otherwise  executed  shall  be  registered  by  any 
officer acting under the said Act, or in any public office, or shall be authenticated by any public 
officer. 

[* * *] 

61. **Repealed.**— [Rep. by the State of Bombay, with effect from the 27th May, 1950 by the Bombay 
Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act, 1947 (Bom. 28 of 1947), s. 56 was amended. Hence the part applicable to 
that State only has not been reproduced.] 

62. **Exemption of instruments to which the Government or any officer of the Government 
is a party.**—Nothing  in  this  Act  shall  be  deemed  to  require  any  instrument,  to  which  the 
Government or any officer of the Government in his official capacity is a party, to be executed 
before a Village-registrar. 

[* * *] 

[^2]. See now the Indian Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908).